Gun cleaning rod



United States Patent The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements ingun cleaners, broadly speaking, and

has more particular reference to the type which is characterized by a rigid shank having handle means at one end and a cleaner patch applicator and retaining head at the other end.

It is generally well understood that most cleaning rods 7 are made from brass which is, of course, costly, more so than steel, and even though it is softer metal than the bore of the gun, it will, in time, cause some damage, particu larly in the last inch or so of the bore, a highly critical zone of a gun bore. With the ordinary brass cleaning rods in more or less common use, some bowing or bending of the rods often occurs whenever the patch is fitted tight enough in the bore to effectively clean the surfaces of the bore. So, in order to prevent such bowing or bending of a brass rod, the rod must be nearly as large in cross-section as the cross-sectional diameter of the gun bore itself, thus increasing the chance of wear and damage to the rifling surfaces.

The invention herein under advisement has to do with a copper-clad steel rod which is characterized by three significant features and advantages, all destined to preserve and protect the surfaces of the bore of the gun during cleaning periods. Manifestly, the attainment of these improved results is important to rifles and hand guns inasmuch as a great percentage of these weapons can only be cleaned from the muzzle end.

Briefly summarized, the improvements have to do first with an elastic or equivalent washer which embraces the shank of the rod adjacent the handle or finger ring and which takes the form of a buffer or bumper and comes against the end of the muzzle to prevent the rod from being pushed too far and causing the finger ring or handle to bump and damage the tip of the muzzle.

Another feature has to do with plastic or equivalent coating or covering forming a sort of a sleeve or sheath for the rod and which is sufiiciently protective in its nature to prevent the rod from coming into rubbing or damaging contact with the surfaces of the bore.

A further objective has to do with the provision on the tip or leading end of the rod of a relatively soft metal head or ball, such as lead, which is for the purpose of holding the patch of cloth which is used for swabbing and cleaning and oiling the bore, and which, because it is of soft metal, minimizes damage to the surfaces even if the head should push through a worn hole in the patch.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a gun cleaning rod constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional and elevational view showing a fragmentary portion of the gun barrel;

Figures 3 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale on the 2 line 33 of Figure 1, looking in' the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view of the patch holding or headed end of the rod.

Referring now to Figure 2, the copper-clad steel rigid rod, of appropriate cross-section, is denoted by the numeral 6, and it is of appropriate length. One end of the rod is bent upon itself to form handle means. More specifically, this takes the form of a finger ring which is denoted by the numeral 8. Surrounding the principal or body portion of the rod is the aforementioned commercial plastic sleeve or sheath, and this is denoted by the numeral 10. It preferably extends from the portion 12 which surrounds a part of the finger ring to and stops short of the outer end of the rod, as denoted at 14 in Figures 1 and 4. This means, therefore, that a portion of the rod projects beyond the protective sleeve, as at 16. As stated, this sleeve may be of a suitably soft, nonabrasive material.

0n the extreme forward or outer end, the aforementioned patch-accommodating member is provided. This takes the form of a slightly enlarged spherical or ballshaped head 18 which is of some malleable material, such as lead, for example. At the opposite end portion and just inwardly of the finger ring or handle means 8 is provided the aforementioned buffer or bumper which takes the form of a rubber washer or the like 20. This is such that it preferably surrounds the protective sleeve or covering media 10. The steel rod gives strength and stiffness, but is covered with plastic or any other nonabrasive material that is harmless to the gun barrel, but will not deteriorate in the presence of oil, powder solvents or other cleaning materials. Such cleaning rod not only serves to protect the muzzle or vital part of the barrel, but gives that same protection throughout the whole length of the bore.

The tip of the rod is made of the combination of lead and tin, or other soft materials which will not harm the steel bore, and is so shaped and made of such size for each caliber so as to hold the common round commercial cleaning patches on the market. As indicated above, the soft metallic tip would not injure the barrel even though the cleaning patch should tear or even wear through.

The rubber disk on the handle end of the gun cleaning rod gives absolute protection to the muzzle of the gun, a very important factor in lever action guns which necessarily must be cleaned from the muzzle end.

With the ordinary brass cleaning rod in common use, some bowing or bending of the rod occurs whenever the patch is fitted tight enough in the bore to effectively clean it. In order to prevent such bowing or bending of a brass rod, the rod must be nearly as large in diameter as the bore of the gun, thus increasing the chance of wear. With the non-abrasive type of cleaning rod shown, the desired strength and rigidity is obtained by use of the steel core and increased size, if necessary.

The proposed cleaning rod can be manufactured in several sizes to accommodate the guns on the market, as for example, one size to take care of everything from .22 through .270 caliber, etc.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a gun barrel cleaner comprising a: straight, substantially rigid steel rod, said rod being. copper-clad to render the same substantially non-corrodible and being provided at one end with a finger ring, said ring being formed by bending one end portion ofitheirod without closinglthe. ring and constitute ing handle means, said rod being provided at its-opposite end v'vith an enlarged malleable metal head to facilitate the use of a conventional cleaning patch in conjunction with said. head, a protective sleeve encasing and fixedon 1 said rod andlhavingr onenend portionilaterally'directed and exteudingsontoand' snugly encasinga portion of the finger ring to guard against lengthwise slippage of said one end portion relative to either the finger ring or the. adjacent portion of the rod, the opposite; end. of said sleeve terminati'ng. in spaced relation from said head .to expose a portion of: the rod between the sleeve: and-head-and to facilitate the fastening. of the; aforementioned; patch by tying or: otherwise. A s

2. The structure defined in claim. 1 and wherein said sleeve is. of non-abrasive andnon-corrodible, relatively soft material, and-the combination therewith of: a rubber collar mounted on and surrounding an end portion of said sleeve adjacent to said finger ring, the diameter of said collar being slightly less than the outside diameter of said finger ring and also being such that it may be caused to bear in an end thrust manner against the finger ring at its point of junctional connection With the'rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 614,191 Weills Nov. 15, 1898 799,125 Whinery Sept. 12, 1905 1,043,653 Whoolery Nov. 5, 1912 1,499,460 Kennedy July 1, 1924 1,610,649 Bair Dec; 14, 1926 2,146,673 Frisone Feb. 7, 1939 2,430,164 Dew Nov. 4, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,999 Great Britain of 1891 OTHER REFERENCES I The Shooters Bible (Catalog No. 331941 

